Halter for horses or cattle.



No. 675,910. Patented lune ll, MM. 8. 8. THOMAS.

HALTER FOR HORSES 0R CATTLE.

(Application Mad Mar. 17, 1898.)

(lo Iodal.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BOYEL S. THOMAS, OF LAMAR, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO ALBERT J. JOHNSON AND DEXTER II. HADLEY, OF QUINCY, ILLINOIS.

HALTER FOR HORSES OR CATTLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 675,910, dated June 1 1, 1901.

Application filed March 17, 11398. Serial No. 674,285. (No model.)

To all whom it 72m concern:

Be it known that 1, 130mm S. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Lamar, county of Barton, State of Mis- 5 souri, have invented a new and useful Halter for Horses or Cattle, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to halters, and has special reference to that class of halters designed for the use of horses and cattle.

To this end the invention primarily contemplates a simple and practical form of halter, the body portion of which is constructed of a single length of metal rod or wire doubled and bent to form rigid side members or cheek-pieces and a rigid half-nosepiece integral therewith, in combination with a pendent chin-piece or loose half-nosepiece and a metal crown-piece detachably connecting the free ends of the side and cheek pieces. This combination provides a halter which will be held tightly upon the head of the animal, besides possessing great strength and durability and capable of being readily applied and removed.

With these and other objects in View the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

0 In the drawing the figure is a perspective View of a halter constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Referring particularly to the drawing, the reference character A designates the halter 5 as an entirety, and the main body portion 1 thereof is constructed of a single length of metal rod or wire which is bent or doubled between its ends to form a substantially U- shaped rigid half-nosepiece F, and the side portions of the body-wire are coiled or looped,

as at E and G, and extend upwardly at substantially right angles to the rigid half-nosepiece F to constitute the opposite rigid upright cheek-pieces 4. One of said side mem- 5 bers 0r cheek-pieces 4 is formed at its upper extremity with an eye 7, and the opposite side member or cheek-piece 4C is bent at its upper extremity to formadownturned hook B,which is adapted to detachably engage in the longitudinally-disposed slot 9, formed in one end of the arched or U-shaped metal crown-piece C. At its opposite end 8 this arched or U- shaped metal crown-piece C is perforated to loosely engage with the eye 7 at the upper terminal of one of the rigid cheek-pieces 4, as plainly shown in the drawing.

The coils E and G of the body-wire constitute connecting-points for the extremities of the chin or throat member 3, which is in the form of a U-shaped bail, constructed of a single length of wire or equivalent material and coiled between its ends to form an attaching loop or ring H for the usual halterstrap. At its extremities the throat or chin member 3 is provided with eyes 5 and 6, which loosely engage with the coils E and G, and thereby provide loose connections between the body portion of the halter and the member 3, whereby the latter is permitted to have a free swinging movement, which facili- 7o tates the application and removal of the halter. Inasmuch as the part of the halter encircling the nose of the animal is usually termed in the art the nosepiece, the throat or chin member 3 may therefore be properly termed a loose half-n osepiece, which is complementary to the rigid half-nosepiece F of the halter-body.

By reason of the hook-and-slot connection between the metal crown-piece and one of the side members or cheek-pieces 4 of the halterbody the halter may be very quickly fastened and unfastened without manipulation of a buckle, as is commonly the case in ordinary leather halters. Furthermore, by reason of constructing the entire halter of metal the same possesses exceptional strength and rigidity, and as the rigid half-nosepiece and the cheek-pieces are integral the fastening or drawing together of the cheek-pieces 4 0 upon the head of the animal secures a corresponding compression of the rigid nosepiece F, whereby a firm and proper fit is effected. The loose half-nosepiece or throat member 3 has a free swinging movement on the body 5 portion of the halter, and when the slotted end of the crown-piece is disengaged from the hook B the said loose member 3 may be swung outward to the outside of the body portion of the halter, thus permitting the latter to be quickly freed.

Changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. In a halter, the combination with rigid cheek pieces and a rigid half nosepiece formed integral therewith, and standing at an angle thereto, of a substantially bail-shaped half-nosepiece suspended therefrom at the base of the rigid half, and a crown-piece detachably connecting the free ends of the cheek-pieces.

2. A metallic halter comprising a body portion constructed of a single length of metal doubled and bent to form an integral rigid half-nosepieee and upstanding side members, one of which members is provided atits terminal with a hook, a U -shaped metal crown-piece 1oosely-connected at one end to one of the side members and provided in its free end with a slot having an interlocking engagement with the hook of the other side member, and a pendent chin or loose halfnosepiece having a pivotal connection with said body portion, substantially as set forth,

B. S. THOMAS. \Vitnesses:

A. T. McAnoW, HERBERT WRAY. 

